Waste & Recycling Information Station

A waste audit is an assessment of what your school is throwing away. Conducting a visual waste audit is a great way to evaluate the waste that is disposed of, and how much of it could have been recycled, composted, or donated.

The challenge

Have students create an information station that classrooms can use, showing what belongs in commingle recycling and what can and cannot be composted.

Worth asking while you audit

Are there recyclable or compostable materials in the trash?
What could we have done to reduce the amount of garbage?

Every classroom in Horry County public schools can recycle through the SWA's Classroom Recycling Program, and each school is provided with classroom recycling bins free of charge. Elementary schools can also compost food waste through SMART Recycling. Your principal contacts HCS Facilities to take part.

Print these

What goes where

The HCS sorting posters for the recycle, compost, and landfill bins. Hang them at your station, or use them as a model for your own. Tap a poster for the full-size version.

Recycle poster: aluminum soft drink cans, clean food containers, plastic drink bottles, steel and aluminum juice cans and foil, clean cardboard, and paper. — Recycle

Compost poster: milk and milk cartons, juice and juice cartons, fruit, salads and vegetables, paper towels and napkins, meats and fish, spaghetti and meatloaf, pizza and cheese, hot dogs and corn dogs, chicken nuggets and fries, crackers and chips, bread and sandwiches. — Compost

Landfill trash poster: foam cups and bowls, food wrappers, plastic utensils, plastic wrap and zipper bags, salad dressing cups, condiment packets, drinking straws, juice pouches, chip bags, and ice cream wrappers. — Landfill trash

Watch

Waste & Recycling Information Station

The challenge

Worth asking while you audit

What goes where

The October challenge, explained